2019 Week 21: (May 19-May 25)

This week in the sky there will be many conjunctions among solar system objects!

Date	Event
May 19	Mars 0.2°N of M35
May 19	Ceres 1.2°N of Moon
May 20	Jupiter 1.7°S of Moon
May 21	Mercury in superior conjunction
May 22	Saturn 0.5°N of Moon
May 22	Pluto 0.1°N of Moon

Our neighbouring great red planet Mars will be in conjunction with an interstellar object known as M35.  Messier 35 is an open cluster that sits just above Castor's foot in the constellation of Gemini.

When it gets dark locate the twin stars Castor and Pollux in the northeastern sky.  Follow the constellation west from the northernmost of the bright stars to find Mars.  Through a telescope you should be able to see the planet amongst a beautiful cluster of stars.

Mars and M35 Conjunction

Throughout the rest of the week the Moon will dance with the dwarf planet Ceres, followed by Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto.  Unfortunately their closest encounters will be visible from the Eastern Hemisphere but we can certainly see them within 5° of each other.  If you hold your hand at arms length and extend your pointer, middle and ring finger 5° is the distance they span.

There is one rocket launch scheduled for this week.  India will be using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle to send a radar Earth observation satellite into space.  You can catch most launches online at: https://spaceflightnow.com/

Date	Event
May 21	PSLV - RISAT 2B (17:57)

We have reached that moment late in Spring.  At 1:44am on Saturday, May 25 we will lose true night until July 19.  Since we live at 50°N latitude we are condemned to have 2 months of nothing but astronomical twilight throughout the evening.  Deep-sky astrophotographers up here typically pack up their gear until later in the Summer.  During this time the Sun does not dip more than 18° below the horizon which is how true 'Night' is defined.

A further explanation can be found at the link below:

https://simonjastronomy.blogspot.com/2017/06/what-is-twilight.html

There are still plenty of objects in the sky to check out.  If you have not yet navigated the galaxies of the Virgo cluster find a dark spot with your telescope and a guide to nail as many of these as possible.  Also, Leo is on its way down to the Sun so if you haven't found all the objects in the Lion for 2019 evenings, now is your chance.

Hercules is starting to rise in the eastern sky which will give observers a beautiful look at the great Hercules globular cluster -- M13.

Also, as Summer approaches you will start to see the Summer Triangle rising to signal the warm weather and plentiful supply of bugs.  Also, stay tuned for Milky Way Nights at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory for a grand tour of the arms of our galaxy!

Scouting Sagittarius (Summer 2018)

Get outside with your unaided eye and see the amazing wonders above.  You may catch a meteor, aurora or recognize one of your favourite constellations!